Aleppo: Before the War

AL-JDEIDA, ALEPPO, SYRIA - 2010/03/20: The interior of Sissi House, a storied hotel burned down during the Syrian civil war in Aleppo in 2012. This 17th century house, named after the Austrian Empress, was the first tourist restaurant in Al-Jdeida. Meaning new town in Arabic, this medieval neighbourhood was built by Aleppine Christians after Tamerlane the Terrible sacked the city in 1400. This quiet labyrinth of narrow cobbled lanes meandering past ancient courtyard house and leafy public squares, was prior to the war, in the midst of a renaissance, its mansions being converted into boutique hotels, cafes, galleries, restaurants and private houses. (Photo by Leisa Tyler/LightRocket via Getty Images)